AAPC Announces Campaign Excellence Awards for the 2021 cycle

Contact:

Alana Joyce
Executive Director
+1 703-245-8021
ajoyce@theaapc.org

 

For Immediate Release

May 18, 2022

AAPC Announces Campaign Excellence Awards for the 2021 cycle
Youngkin for Governor named Campaign of the Year and Stop the Republican Recall of Gavin Newsom named Digital Campaign of the Year

San Juan, Puerto Rico (May 18, 2022) —The American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC)—America’s largest and only bipartisan network of political professionals— today announced the winners of the AAPC Campaign Excellence Awards for exceptional work during the 2021 cycle. These awards were presented at a special ceremony in conjunction with the annual AAPC Pollie Awards & Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Campaign Excellence Awards are a longstanding tradition of the AAPC and recognize those individuals who have significantly contributed to the success of a candidate or public affairs campaign and whose conduct has been consistent with the Professional Code of Ethics of the AAPC.

“The 2022 Campaign Excellence Award winners far surpassed the high bar of scrutiny set out in our standards of judging. The effort, dedication and masterful skills these individuals employed during the 2021 campaign cycle deserves tremendous recognition, and AAPC is proud to provide just that,” said AAPC President Becki Donatelli. “It’s a privilege to celebrate these outstanding political practitioners together at the Pollie Conference,” added AAPC Vice President Larry Huynh.

“Political Marketing + Media and our affiliates PlayFly Sports and Home Team Sports would like to offer congratulations to the 2022 Campaign Excellence Award winners,” said Stephen Ullman, Managing Partner of Political Marketing + Media. “We are honored to share in their celebration at the 2022 Pollie Conference.”

AAPC Campaign Excellence Award Winners

Ballot Measure Campaign of the Year (Local): Save Austin Now – Proposition B

Ballot Measure Campaign of the Year (Statewide): Cannabis Community for Fairness and Safety (CCFS) – No on 119

Public Affairs Campaign of the Year: Every Bottle Back

Independent Expenditure Campaign of the Year: All of Mpls

Campaign Manager of the Year, Non-Statewide (Democratic): Katie Moore, Eric Adams for Mayor

Campaign Manager of the Year, Non-Statewide (Republican): Matt Brownfield, Jake Ellzey for Congress

Fundraiser of the Year (Democratic): Darren Rigger, Dynamic SRG – NYC Campaigns for Borough Presidents and Speaker

Fundraiser of the Year (Republican): Jenniffer Ortiz-Alizieri, Campaign Solutions, CDI Ads and Winning Tuesday – Larry Elder for Governor

Digital Campaign of the Year: Stop the Republican Recall of Gavin Newsom

Campaign Manager of the Year, Statewide (Democratic): Juan Rodrigiez, Stop the Republican Recall of Gavin Newsom

Campaign Manager of the Year, Statewide (Republican): Klarke Kilgore, Jason Miyares for Virginia Attorney General

Most Valuable Player of the Year (Democratic): Kendra-Sue Derby, Howard Franklin & Candice Franklin, Andre Dickens for Atlanta Mayor

 Most Valuable Player of the Year (Republican): Kristin Davison, Youngkin Campaign

Pollster of the Year (Democratic): Tulchin Research, Eric Adams for Mayor of New York City 2021

Pollster of the Year (Republican): WPAi AND Tarrance Group – Youngkin for Governor

Campaign of the Year: Youngkin for Governor

 

About the 2022 AAPC Pollie Conference

As the premier industry event, the 2022 Pollie Awards & Conference is held in San Juan, Puerto Rico from May 17-19, 2022 and brings the leading political professionals in the world together to network and hear from top technology innovators, pollsters, pundits and service providers. The Conference features cutting-edge programming on key industry trends, designed to empower attendees to leverage the latest techniques in campaign strategy and management. The Conference is widely recognized as the must-attend event for political consultants, media buyers, public affairs specialists, suppliers, industry leaders and journalists. For details, visit www.theaapc.org.

About AAPC
Founded in 1969, the AAPC is a multi-partisan organization of political and public affairs professionals dedicated to improving democracy. The AAPC has over 1,400 members hailing from all corners of the globe.  It is the largest association of political and public affairs professionals in the world. For more information, see www.theaapc.org.

About Political Marketing + Media

Founded in 2014, Political Marketing + Media specializes in matching political candidates, committees + advocacy groups with the best local, regional + national sports, news and entertainment programming and events. For more information, see politicalmarketingandmedia.com.

AAPC Announces 2022 Class of 40 Under 40 Award Winners

Contact:

Alana Joyce
Executive Director
+1 703-245-8021
ajoyce@theaapc.org

 

For Immediate Release

May 17, 2022

AAPC Announces 2022 Class of 40 Under 40 Award Winners

San Juan, Puerto Rico (May 17, 2022) —The American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC)—America’s only bipartisan association of political professionals— today announced the winners of the 2022 40 Under 40 Awards program recognizing the best and brightest young professionals working in the United States. Selected from more than 200 nominations, the winners were recognized at an awards ceremony during the 2022 Pollie Awards & Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

“The judging process was especially difficult this year, with such high volume of outstanding young professionals nominated. We are encouraged to see so many high achieving young politicos rise up within the industry, and salute this year’s winners,” said AAPC President Becki Donatelli. “We have no doubt that the 2022 Class of 40 Under 40 will continue to even greater successes as political consultants and help educate and inspire other rising stars in the industry, ”added AAPC Vice President Larry Huynh.

“We are thrilled to congratulate this year’s winners of the 40 Under 40 Awards. As a leader in the political text message marketing industry, it’s our pleasure to watch these individuals succeed in their profession and to contribute in a small way in their digital marketing journey,” added Kevin Fitzgerald, Tatango CEO.

The AAPC is dedicated to fostering the next generation of political professionals and is proud to recognize leaders and innovators in the political business community (including media, advertising, polling and public affairs) who are making a mark in their organization and their profession.

Winners of the AAPC 2022 40 Under 40 Awards

Democratic Winners Republican Winners
Ryan Berni, Berni Consulting

 

 Michael McCollum Adams, TAG Strategies
Mollie Binotto, Sena Kozar Strategies Sarah Clamp, Prime Media Partners
Kati Bumgardner, Counterpoint Messaging Chazz Clevinger, OneClickPolitics

 
Marshall Cohen, Democratic Governors Association (DGA) Lindsay Shuba Donnelly, TLC Political
Seferiana Day, Upper Left Strategies Kaeley Gemmill, Targeted Victory
Katelynd Duncan, KJD Strategies Joseph Goetz, NRCC
Zandria Haines, SBDigital Amanda Iovino, WPA Intelligence
Joshua Handelman, Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Matt Kenney, Camelback Strategy Group
Danny Kazin, American Bridge Danny Laub, POOLHOUSE
Adam Kirsch, Change Research Caeli Mahon, Targeted Victory
Angela Kuefler, Global Strategy Group Katie Martin, Big Dog Strategies
Byron LaMasters, InFocus Campaigns George Nassar, Public Opinion Strategies
Ben Lazarus, TargetSmart Joey Parr, Murphy Nasica
Alesa Mackool, ACM Strategies Sean Philbin, Smart Media Group
Henri Makembe, Do Big Things Christiana Purves, Push Digital & Laurens Group
Ishanee Parikh, Future Forward USA Action Martin Rini, Targeted Victory
Marilyn Báez Rodríguez, 303 Digital Jeffrey Snow, 936 Media
Tess Troha-Thompson, New Blue Interactive Edith Jorge-Tuñon, Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC)
Bryan Boo Yuen, Putnam Partners Phil Vangelakos, Push Digital, LLC
Adam Wise, National Media
Independent Winner:

Stephen Miller, Kivvit

About the 2022 AAPC Pollie Conference
As the premier industry event, the 2022 Pollie Awards & Conference is held in San Juan, Puerto Rico from May 17-19, 2022 and brings the leading political professionals in the world together to network and hear from top technology innovators, pollsters, pundits and service providers. The Conference features cutting-edge programming on key industry trends, designed to empower attendees to leverage the latest techniques in campaign strategy and management. The Conference is widely recognized as the must-attend event for political consultants, media buyers, public affairs specialists, suppliers, industry leaders and journalists. For details, visit www.theaapc.org.

About AAPC
Founded in 1969, the AAPC is a multi-partisan organization of political and public affairs professionals dedicated to improving democracy. The AAPC has over 1,400 members hailing from all corners of the globe.  It is the largest association of political and public affairs professionals in the world. For more information, see www.theaapc.org.

About Tatango

Since 2007, Tatango has provided easy-to-use SMS marketing software and industry expertise to political and nonprofit organizations and causes looking to achieve their fundraising goals. Tatango has become a market leader powering SMS and MMS campaigns designed to drive fundraising results. With billions of messages sent, Tatango’s marketing software has been time-tested to deliver positive fundraising outcomes.

A Local’s Guide to San Juan, Puerto Rico!

Luis Herrero is an AAPC member who lives in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Luis has been involved in planning for Pollies 22, and has been kind enough to share his local recommendations so that all attendees may make the most of their time in San Juan! Check out his recommendations below:

There are many activities for you to enjoy in San Juan before, during or after the conference.

The conference hotel, Caribe Hilton, was built in the 1940’s and was the first hotel managed by Conrad Hilton outside the continental US. The hotel also claims to be the birthplace of the iconic piña colada cocktail, though a Barrachina restaurant in Old San Juan claims the same (my recommendation, try both!). The hotel also boasts Puerto Rico’s only private beach and a Morton’s steakhouse. From the conference, you are a quick uber/taxi ride away from the capital’s main attractions. You can also walk to the Condado tourist area (approx. 15 minute walk) or to Old San Juan (approx. 30 minute walk) if you want. If you wanna venture into more local areas, I recommend Miramar sector, about 10 minutes walking across the bridge. With cinemas, theaters and a vibrant restaurant and bar scene open until late. Recommended: Ariel (high end cuisine, one of my favorites. Reservations are a must), Pizza e Birra, Los Pinos café (dominican food, open 24/7), Casita Miramar (high puerto rican cuisine. highly recommended), and Rare 125 (steakhouse).

Also, about a 30 minute walk or 5 minutes uber ride, you will find La Placita de Santurce, an open air market that turns into a party zone with bars, pubs and restaurants at night full of locals. La placita has two of San Juan’s best restaurants, Santaella (asks for the watermelon mojito) and José Enrique (no reservations, only walk-ins). A new entertainment district called District Live! has sprung up near the Puerto Rico convention center (15 minute walk), with bars, restaurants, outdoor music and a zip line.

I recommend spending a whole day exploring Old San Juan. Our historic city is truly a treasure that just turned 500 years old. The old city is the axis of nightlife in San Juan]. La Factoría, in San Sebastian street, is consistently chosen as one of the best 50 bars in the world (there is a secret entrance behind the bar to a salsa nightclub. The “Despacito” vide was filmed here). My favorite restaurant in Puerto Rico, Marmalade, is located on Fortaleza street, about three blocks from the Governor’s mansion. If you love cats, my wife can personally give you a tour of Save a Gato, an organization that we volunteer with to maintain a healthy and thriving cat colony in Old San Juan.

San Juan also has great beaches, even if the best ones are on the southwest part of the Island. There are some small but tranquil beaches near our hotel, at Escambron public beach, right next to our hotel, or in Condado (laguna del Condado, pocita del Condado), but be careful with some that have strong currents, so watch out for the signs saying where it’s safe to swim. A very popular beach with locals is Ocean Park (approx. 10 min ride) where you can find great places to eat nearby on Calle Loíza.

If you’re up for a very cultural experience, you may head to Piñones (approx. 30 min ride + traffic on the weekends) a small coastal town where the municipalities of Carolina (where the airport is) and Loíza meet. Here you can experience a completely different PR from what you’ll see in SJ. The food here is great! You’ll probably find many of the local dishes (probably fried). There are also very good beaches and a mostly local crowd.

If you wish to explore or do outdoor activities, there are a number of attractions less than an hour away from your hotel. You can go to a more secluded beach, hike through the rain forest (only one in the US), kayak at night and explore a bioluminescent bay, or just visit charming towns near the coast. If this is something you are interested in I can give you more details.

Feel free to email or ask me or my partners, Pedro Valle & Marilyn Báez, for tips or recommendations about things to do in San Juan. We are so happy to have you here!

Haley Barbour, Alexander Gage and Mandy Grunwald Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

May 9, 2022

CONTACT:
Alana Joyce
Executive Director
703-245-8021
ajoyce@theaapc.org

 

Haley Barbour, Alexander Gage and Mandy Grunwald Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

AAPC Announces 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees

 

Washington, D.C. (May 9, 2022) — The American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) — America’s largest and only bipartisan network of political professionals — announced Haley Barbour, Alexander Gage, and Mandy Grunwald as this year’s inductees into the AAPC Hall of Fame. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, sponsored by Home Team Sports, Playfly and Political Marketing + Media in conjunction with the annual AAPC Pollie Awards & Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

AAPC annually selects accomplished industry professionals for induction into its Hall of Fame. This is the highest honor that working members of the profession can bestow upon a colleague. The award recognizes honorees’ influence on other political consultants and public affairs professionals, the length and seriousness of their careers and their commitment to ethical business practices.

“It’s a privilege to honor such innovative and high-achieving individuals and firms in the industry,” said AAPC President Becki Donatelli.

“The impact that this year’s Hall of Fame inductees have had on the political consulting industry is immeasurable. We are excited to celebrate their achievements in person at the Pollie Conference,” added AAPC Vice President Larry Huynh.

“Home Team Sports, Playfly Sports and Political Marketing + Media are thrilled to take part in honoring this year’s Hall of Fame inductees,” said Stephen Ullman, Managing Partner of Political Marketing + Media. “The impact Alex, Haley and Mandy have had on this industry is outstanding and is well deserving of celebration.”

Previous Hall of Fame inductees include Lee Atwater, David Axelrod, Ross Bates, Paul Begala, Charlie Black, James Carville, Alex Castellanos, Joseph Cerrell, Wally Clinton, Roger Craver, Morris S. Dees, Linda DiVall, Thomas Edmonds, Arthur Finkelstein, Joseph Gaylord, David Garth, Bob Goodman, George Gorton, Stanley Greenberg, William Hamilton, Peter D. Hart, Allen Hoffenblum, Gale Kaufman, Donna Lucas, Eddie Mahe, Jr., Ellen Malcolm, Hal Malchow, Jim Margolis, Minyon Moore, Joe Napolitan, Lyn Nofziger, David Plouffe, Matt Reese, Ed Rollins, Karl Rove, Robert Shrum, Lionel Sosa, Stuart Spencer, Bob Squire, Greg Stevens, Ray Strother, Tony Schwartz, V. Lance Tarrance, Jr., Robert Teeter, Nancy Todd, Paul Tully, Richard Viguerie, F. Clifton White and Dick Woodward.

About the 2022 AAPC Hall of Fame Inductees

Haley Barbour, Founding Partner of BGR Group, returned to BGR in January 2012 after serving two consecutive terms as Governor of Mississippi, including two years as the Chairman of the Republican Governors Association. At BGR, he heads advocacy coalitions, lobbies on behalf of clients and remains a major force in Republican party politics and elections. Gov. Barbour began his political career in 1968, dropping out of college to work on Richard Nixon’s presidential campaign; he later served as Political Director of the Reagan White House. From 1993 to 1997, Gov. Barbour served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee. In 2003, he was elected Governor of Mississippi, assuming office in January 2004. After Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, Gov. Barbour received national recognition from the bipartisan American Legislative Exchange Council for his swift response to the worst natural disaster in American history. For his efforts to rebuild the Mississippi Gulf Coast, he received the Thomas Jefferson Freedom Award. The Hill newspaper has listed Gov. Barbour as one of Washington’s top lobbyists annually since his return to the firm in 2012.

Alexander Patton Gage began his professional career in 1974 as a survey research analyst at Market Opinion Research (MOR), where Robert M. Teeter, considered one of the founders of modern political campaign research, tapped Gage to be a part of the 1976 campaign for President Gerald R. Ford. Gage has participated in various capacities in every GOP presidential campaign since then. In 2003, Gage left MOR and founded TargetPoint Consulting, Inc., where he was a pioneer in the emerging field of microtargeting. Today, TargetPoint remains a leader in microtargeting and public opinion research. A constant innovator, Gage left TargetPoint in 2016 to focus his attention on G2 Analytics, a market research firm he co-founded to revolutionize how video content is measured and analyzed. Under his leadership, G2 Analytics has become a leader in political video testing.

Mandy Grunwald is the founder and president of Grunwald Communications, one of the leading Democratic media firms in the country and the most successful woman-owned media consultancy ever. Mandy is one of the few women at the top of the field, has elected numerous Senators and Governors and is the only woman in history to run the advertising for a successful presidential campaign (Bill Clinton’s). Mandy has helped elect six current Senators — Senator Tammy Baldwin, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator John Hickenlooper, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Senator Elizabeth Warren, and worked on successful independent expenditures for Senators Sherrod Brown, Maggie Hassan, Mark Kelly, Chris Murphy and Jackie Rosen. She is also known for her work for all Hillary Clinton’s Senate and Presidential campaigns.

About the 2022 AAPC Pollie Conference

As the premier industry event, the 2022 Pollie Awards & Conference is held in San Juan, Puerto Rico from May 17-19, 2022, and brings the leading political professionals in the world together to network and hear from top technology innovators, pollsters, pundits and service providers. The Conference features cutting-edge programming on key industry trends, designed to empower attendees to leverage the latest techniques in campaign strategy and management. The Conference is widely recognized as the must-attend event for political consultants, media buyers, public affairs specialists, suppliers, industry leaders and journalists. For details, visit www.theaapc.org.

About AAPC

Founded in 1969, the AAPC is a multi-partisan organization of political and public affairs professionals dedicated to improving democracy. The AAPC has over 1,500 members hailing from all corners of the globe. It is the largest association of political and public affairs professionals in the world. For more information, see www.theaapc.org.

About Political Marketing + Media

Founded in 2014, Political Marketing + Media specializes in matching political candidates, committees + advocacy groups with the best local, regional + national sports, news and entertainment programming and events. For more information, see politicalmarketingandmedia.com.

AAPC Partners on #TrustedInfo2022

The dissemination of accurate election information is a core value for AAPC and we are excited to support , an education initiative spearheaded by the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS).

 will help get voters the information they need to effectively participate in our democracy by highlighting election officials as the trusted sources for credible election information.

In this important election year, political consultants have the ability to make a huge impact. By educating voters about the  initiative, we can drive them directly to election officials’ websites and verified social media pages. This effort will ensure people are getting accurate election information and cut down on the misinformation and disinformation that can surround elections.

Voters can find their election official by visiting , an easy-to-use nonpartisan website maintained by NASS.

You can learn more about  by !

On the Campaign Trail: Insights from the Biden for President Campaign

The AAPC recently caught up with pollsters Celinda Lake and John Anzalone from the Biden for President campaign who shared their experience on their success from the 2020 Presidential campaign. The team is also the recipient of AAPC’s 2021 Democratic Campaign of the Year Award.

What specific team efforts contributed to the success of the campaign?

“Team” permeated the campaign from the beginning and that really contributed to the success. The pollsters worked very well together, solicited each other’s opinions, shared data and methodology, and clearly understood from day one that we were all in this together while facing a very difficult task in the primary and the general. This campaign had remarkable coordination between the “big data” operation and the polling and we worked hard to share methodology and compare insights and findings for the maximum impact. The entire team was very message oriented and benefitted from interactions with the policy people. We also were led by an amazing message team with Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn. The field operation and Jenn Ridder worked hard to implement the findings across mediums and to understand the value of traditional and big data targeting. Jennifer O’Malley Dillon set a strong tone from day one of “one team” and did an amazing job of assembling and leading a campaign virtually. First and foremost we were also led by a candidate and spouse who listened to the data, knew who they were and their values, and were open to good and bad news.

What tools did your team use to keep the campaign organized?

The tools that we used as pollsters were daily conversations, exchanging all materials and drafts, and sharing insights from all the work we were doing. Deep respect and affection and a good sense of humor helped us throughout. In our firm and in all their firms we were aided with such strong teams and partners.

How big of a role did social media marketing play in the success of the campaign?

Constant monitoring of social media by the DNC was superb, as well as the exchange of information so that we could compare what we were seeing in the polling with what was happening in social media responses, and flexible rapid testing using social media.

What was the biggest obstacle that your team faced on the campaign trail, and how did you overcome it?

Two big obstacles occurred. It’s hard to speak on the difficulty of exchanging information and having input when everything is socially distanced and on zoom. The sharing of information had to be formalized. It made it much harder to have input and to share than when we were all in one place. We overcame it with really good coordination from Julia Kennedy and a deep commitment to full sharing. We experimented with a variety of state and national coordination meetings. The state teams were also very data oriented and did an excellent job of consuming the data. The second obstacle was the difficulty of beating Donald Trump. The campaign and Joe Biden knew from day one how extraordinarily difficult that was. Then came the overlay of COVID-19 and the impact that had on field and GOTV. There was also the third stage of the campaign to protect the vote which our firm transitioned to day after the election.

What did you find most rewarding about working on this campaign?

The most rewarding part of the campaign was the success of the unity message and the economic message which were so authentic to Joe Biden. That was rivaled by the reward of beating Donald Trump. I truly believed from day one that Joe Biden was the candidate to beat Trump. It was very rewarding to work with such a talented group of pollsters to get the job done, share information and learn so much from them. It was rewarding to see our research turned directly in days to communications. It was very rewarding to work with two such powerful, principled women in Dr. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Webinar Recap: Media Consumption During COVID-19: Getting The Most Out of Streaming TV

In the last few months, over-the-top (OTT) services like Hulu, YouTube and more have seen a surge in consumption like never before as a result of stay-at-home orders. As the American electorate’s weekly screen time steadily increases, so do the opportunities for campaigns to leverage OTT services for targeted ad placement.

During AAPC’s latest webinar, a panel of experts discussed how connected devices and streaming services are changing the way voters consume media — particularly during the current crisis, and provided insights on the reach of OTT services, effective targeting methods, budgeting and media buying considerations, and ways in which to ensure brand safety.

Check out the key lessons from the webinar below, and listen to the recording for even more expert insights.

This webinar has been archived for playback. AAPC members can click here to view all webinar archives.

Key Lessons from the Webinar

  • The Difference Between Connected TV and OTT: OTT is considered content that is streamed via a service like Hulu or Netflix. Connected TV, or CTV, is video content delivered via internet connection on a smart TV. Services that fall under CTV are Roku, Apple TV, or gaming consoles. 
  • Advantages to OTT: As a result of COVID-19, OTT platforms have seen record-breaking usage and there are more opportunities than ever to reach voters using OTT.
    • Advertisers and buyers can reach a highly-targeted and focused audience.
    • Some forms of OTT also offer valuable data on who is watching, how long they’re watching, and more.
    • The OTT audience is also becoming more diverse and is not just limited to younger viewers.
  •  Challenges to OTT: OTT is not a catch-all to reach all audiences.
    • Smart advertisers should continue to leverage cross-channel planning to find new efficiencies and strategic ways to incorporate CTV/OTT into their advertising mix.
    • Advertisers should also use tools like white lists and guaranteed buys to help ensure brand safety when using OTT.

Access the full recording to hear additional tips from our panelists.

This webinar is eligible for one (1) A5 Distributing Communications (Message Dissemination) credit towards AAPC’s Communications Certificate. To learn more about achieving this Certificate, click here. 

Webinar Recap: Reopening America: Up-to-the-Moment U.S. Voter Sentiment During the Pandemic

In 2020, a whirlwind of change has gripped the U.S. voter. From the coronavirus pandemic to racial tensions, voter sentiment has been shifting rapidly.What does this mean for campaigns? How should you communicate with voters that aren’t sure what’s coming next?

Resonate’s Brent Waddington, Director of Research, recently answered these questions during an AAPC webinar where he took a deep dive into Resonate’s insight-packed Wave 3 report, Reopening America: Up-to-the-Moment U.S. Voter Sentiment During the Pandemic. He also analyzed vital survey points across March, April and May data.

Check out the key lessons from the webinar below, and listen to the recording for even more expert insights.

This webinar has been archived for playback. AAPC members can click here to view all webinar archives.

Key Lessons from the Webinar

  • What people are most worried about: With so much turmoil and change happening on a daily basis in the U.S., it’s important to understand what voters are most worried about. While the number of respondents concerned about health and economic consequences of COVID-19 have slightly decreased, still 78% of respondents are concerned (moderate to extreme extent) about health issues, and 90% concerned (moderate to extreme extent) about financial hardships related to COVID-19. 
  • Changing voter values: 73 million U.S. adults reported that their values have significantly changed since the pandemic began. At the beginning of the pandemic, security, safety and duty significantly increased as more important than before. Today, they are still higher than normal, but have actually dropped since the beginning of the pandemic. Values that are seen as more important now than before COVID-19 include self-enhancement, achievement, influence and pleasure. This is likely due to people feeling less engaged or stimulated throughout quarantine and social distancing.
  • Political implications: Since March of 2020, Resonate’s data shows that 33% of voters say their trust in the federal government has decreased, while trust in state and local governments has increased. Additionally, over 20% of voters have stated that they have changed their opinion on who to vote for in the November presidential election since March.

Access the full recording to hear additional tips from our panelists.

Webinar Recap: Campaign Event Planning Amid COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on the way political campaigns engage constituents. But the election cycle isn’t stopping, giving you even more reason to be innovative and consider virtual events (think fundraisers) to rally your base and promote your candidate or cause. Plus, when in-person gatherings start to take shape again, ensuring your attendees are safe and that your campaign is protected when going to contract with venues and event vendors in the event of a cancellation or other instance, is more critical than ever before. AAPC’s recent webinar featuring a panel of experienced event planners discussed everything you should know and keep in mind when planning your campaign events in the time of a pandemic.

Check out the key lessons from the webinar below, and listen to the recording for even more expert insights.

This webinar has been archived for playback. AAPC members can click here to view all webinar archives.

Key Lessons from the Webinar

  • Pivoting to virtual events: While virtual events don’t offer as much personal interaction and connection between the candidate and their supporters, they do offer their own benefits. While your campaign would normally be spending a lot of time and money on the logistics of in-person events and traveling to get there, you are now able to reach voters across your jurisdiction all at once, giving you the opportunity to focus on building strong relationships with supporters.
  • Creating a virtual experience: It can be difficult to recreate the feeling of personal interactions in a virtual setting. Providing opportunities for the candidate to personally connect with supporters, as well as for supporters to get to know each other, in a virtual platform is key to building that feeling of energy and community that propel a campaign forward. Try using virtual storytelling systems, like engaging multimedia, live chats, or even 3D virtual experiences (think of a virtual reality, like in a video game). There are options available for any campaign budget.
  • Safety considerations for in-person events: When beginning to plan in-person events, be sure to be cognizant of the regulations in place for the state and locality that you are in. Additionally, while there might not be restrictions in place, you should consider the potential liability on your campaign if someone was to get sick. Regardless of liability, you most likely wouldn’t want a story in the press about an attendee at your event getting sick. With these outcomes in mind, the safest bet for your campaign is to stay on the conservative side of cleanliness and safety standards.

Access the full recording to hear additional tips from our panelists.

Webinar Recap: Finding Inspiration in Isolation: Creating Compelling Messaging for Political Campaigns

As digital communications take the place of face-to-face opportunities to communicate with voters, crafting relevant messaging to keep your supporters engaged is more important than ever before. Join our panel of communications experts as they discuss how to recharge your email strategy, strengthen your brand, and ensure your tone is appropriate in light of the current crisis.

Check out the key lessons from the webinar below, and listen to the recording for even more expert insights.

This webinar has been archived for playback. AAPC members can click here to view all webinar archives.

Key Lessons from the Webinar:

Pivot your message, not your brand. 

  • Instead of altering your brand, alter what you are talking about to seize the opportunity. Altering your brand or digital persona can seem inauthentic, opaque, and shallow
  • Look at this as an opportunity to expand your brand, think creatively and step outside your comfort zone

Personalize content & avoid cliches

  • Try to localize your content to the state, county, or city level whenever possible
  • Share stories of your quarantine experience to prove that “we are all in this together” without actually typing the words “we are all in this together”
  • Highlight community stories
  • Continue to post on relevant political issues that rally the base

Ensure an appropriate tone

  • Voters need to be reminded that you’re still fighting for them on the issues that matter most to them
  • Create personalized experiences and provide a sense of normalcy
  • Be emphatic and genuine while still delivering a bold message
    • Organize events/live streams with small business owners, medical professionals, and community thought leaders to talk about the economic and community impact

On digital fundraising

  • There is a perception that fundraising has tanked; many are still doing well though
  • Change up the “asks”
    • Ask for smaller donations during this time of uncertainty
    • Go back to your donors and ask them to be recurring donors
  • Give them something in return
  • Be prepared for pushback

Access the full recording to hear additional tips from our panelists.

This webinar is eligible for one (1) A3 Creative Execution credit towards AAPC’s Communications Certificate. To learn more about achieving this Certificate, click here.